(WISE, Va.) — October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women in the United States. About one in eight American women will get breast cancer at some point in their life. According to the Virginia Cancer Registry (December 2016), the LENOWISCO Health District has an age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rate of 23.3 per 100,000; which is slightly higher than the Virginia state age-adjusted rate of 22.4 per 100,000. We have made a lot of progress as a health district, but still have a long way to go and need everyone’s help! We CAN still make a difference; spread the message about screening and early detection, and encourage families and individuals to get involved.

Due to the regular use of mammography screening, most breast cancers in the U.S. are found at an early stage before warning signs appear.The signs and symptoms of breast cancer that should be discussed with a doctor include:

A lump, hard knot or a thickening in the breast or under the arm. Change in the size or shape of the breast;

Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast;

Change in size or shape of the breast;

Dimpling or puckering of the skin;

Itchy scaly sore or rash on the nipple;

Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast;

Nipple discharge that occurs suddenly, is bloody or occurs in only one breast; or

New pain in one spot that does not go away

The LENOWISCO Health District and the Susan B. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge affiliate are dedicated to reducing mortality and late stage diagnosis of breast cancer in our communities. In 2016, the Blue Ridge Affiliate expanded in southwest Virginia, bringing the total service area to 42 cities and counties. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge added two cities and nine counties that were previously in Komen Tri-Cities’ service area: Bristol, Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Norton, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise.

The LENOWISCO Health District offers two programs for breast cancer screening and diagnosis for women between the ages of 40 and 64 years. Every Woman’s Life helps uninsured, low-income women ages 40 to 64 gain access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. The Komen Breast Health program helps uninsured and underinsured women, low-income women ages 40 to 64 access breast cancer screening and diagnostic services. It is as simple as a phone call to your local health department. Don’t wait; call today for your screening.

For more information, contact your local health department to make an appointment for breast cancer screening: